My love for the Phoenix

experience watching the Phoenix score a winner in the last few minutes of a game, given the club has a glorious tradition of conceding a losing goal in injury time.

The Phoenix at present lie fifth and are enjoying a record streak of eight unbeaten games. But the cheering shouldn’t start quite yet. What we should cheer about is the confidence in the players – especially younger local ones – that has been shown by Rudan. It’s also great to see him praising his dedicated support team, who must be gaining the same self-belief as the players.

In the meantime, the Phoenix management should realise that Rudan could become a marked man. Australian clubs with more money and better facilities will be impressed with his results, so I hope they are doing everything to keep him happy and here. But let’s hope they also remember it’s not only about money.

The Phoenix’s problems are far from over. But if attendances can hit 10,000 more often, and more former season ticket holders like me come back, Football Federation Australia will surely have to accept the Phoenix as a permanent fixture in the A-League, especially if the on-field results are good.

As for me, I might just get on the net and buy a ticket to the next home game. To be honest, I’d prefer to just rock up on the day, but with current crowd numbers I am informed that I might have to wait a very long time to get a ticket. What a fantastic problem for a football club to have.